Spiritual Warfare in the Book of Psalms – 142

Scripture:

Ps. 60:12
Through God we shall do valiantly …

(Swedish version: “With God we can do mighty things …”)

Comment:

We need to think bigger.

It is so easy to limit what God can do through us, when we look at ourselves, instead of seeing who God is in us. When we think about our own ability and our circumstances, we will not even get close to what God is able to do through us.

Some one might say: “But what if I become haughty or proud, and start dealing with what is too big for me?” Yes, there is such a ditch, but just because there is a ditch on the other side of the road, doesn’t mean we should stay in stay in ‘the ditch of impossibility’.

There is a certain demonically inspirited way of thinking in the world. In Scandinavia we even regard the phenomena as a ‘law’, the Jante law. Examples of such thoughts, becoming strongholds, are, “So, you think you are better than us?” or “Du you think you are smarter than us?” or “Who do you think you are, trying to perform super natural acts?”. Those strongholds need to be torn down. They are dwelling places for demons. The purpose behind those thoughts is to limit you, especially regarding what God wants to do through you.

The Word of God gives us the truth:

Eph. 3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

It’s not about our ability, but God’s ability through us. He is able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY above ALL that we ask or think. When we understand and believe that, we are on our way to be more useful for God.

Demonology – 67

67. THE JEZEBEL SPIRIT (part 22)

Can the Jezebel spirit control the church even when the pastor isn’t a Jezebel-person?

There is every possibility of a church being under the control of the Jezebel spirit even when the pastor isn’t a Jezebel-person. The tool for the spirit might be the group of elders, or another leader, like a worship leader or a prayer leader.

How can the Jezebel spirit control through the group of elders?

Many churches have a group of elders that leads the church together with the pastor. When everything is functioning the way it should, and when the Holy Spirit is allowed to guide each one of them, a group of elders is a blessing. Unfortunately it is very easy for a group of elders to become a board and an employer, and for the pastor to act as an employee according to the decisions of the group. That way the Jezebel spirit can use one or more in the group of elders to control the church.

How can the Jezebel spirit control through a worship leader or a prayer leader?

A person who has received the calling and the anointing to lead the worship, the prayer or something else, is a blessing when he/she is serving within that calling. But if the same person steps outside his/her function and is allowed a free hand in the church the Jezebel spirit can use it and even be the reason for it.
One might think that the pastor could stop the wrong actions, but there could be some kind of dependence that makes that difficult. For instance it might be that the church has been looking for a worship leader for a long time, and when they finally get one, they are afraid of loosing him/her.

Spiritual Warfare in the Book of Psalms – 141

Scripture:

Ps. 60:12
Through God we shall do valiantly …

(Swedish version: “With God we can do mighty things …”)

Comment:

When Jesus walked here on earth very few people knew who He was. However the evil spirits, knew very well, and they knew what power He had. In the same way the evil spirits know the power we have since we are God’s children. Because of that knowledge the evil spirits will do all they can to make us believe we are powerless. The truth is, we can do mighty things!

This verse also reminds us about another truth. It’s with God we can do mighty things. We are not able to conquer the evil spiritual world on our own strength. But Jesus has already conquered the evil spirits, and we can act from that victory.

Today God is calling you to walk with Him and do mighty things!

Well said

“The more I know, the more I know how little I know. The less you know, the more you think you know.”

Spiritual Warfare in the Book of Psalms – 140

Scripture:

Ps. 58:1
… Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

(Swedish version: “Do you indeed plead the cause of righteousness when you are silent …?”)

Comment:
We are speaking on behalf of Jesus when we command evil spirits to leave.

Jesus, after becoming a sacrifice on the cross to set us free, is now sitting at the right hand of the Father, waiting for His victory to manifest on earth. He, who has become our righteousness, wants us to plead His cause.

What does it mean to plead Jesus’ cause? Let’s remind ourselves what is written in Ps. 8:2.

Ps. 8:2
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

God wants to use us, His children, to still the enemy, that is, to render the evil spirits harmless. We do that by speaking, by commanding in the name of Jesus, with the power of the Holy Spirit resting on our words.

What happens if we don’t speak against the enemy, i.e. if we are silent? The answer is, the power of the Holy Spirit will not be released against the evil spiritual world, and the enemy will continue to harass our lives as well as others’.

To plead Jesus’ (the Righteousness) cause, of course means much more than commanding evil spirits to leave. But since we are speaking of spiritual warfare, we will lift up that part of the truth.

Do you indeed plead the cause of righteousness? Or, are you silent?

Demonology – 66

66. THE JEZEBEL SPIRIT (part 21)

Why does the Jezebel spirit attack the leadership of the church?

If the Jezebel spirit should succeed in getting influence over the pastor or other leaders of the church it will automatically have influence or control over those under authority. That way, entire churches can be controlled and suppressed.

Can a pastor be a Jezebel person?

Yes, and that is important to understand. A pastor can be a tool for the Jezebel spirit.

How do you notice that a pastor is a Jezebel person?

We have already studied how a Jezebel person acts, and that is applicable about pastors. There is one thing to add concerning pastors. In a pastor’s calling there is a longing to embrace and care for the members. When the Jezebel spirit has gained influence, the relationship to the members gets distant or cold. A member who has felt loved by his/her pastor, suddenly can be met by a cold attitude and words that hurts deeply. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the pastor is a Jezebel person, but there is a reason to be watchful, especially if there are unexpected attacks coming from the pastor. At such times it probably isn’t the words that hurt the most, but the power that is following the words.

Is a ‘Jezebel pastor’ a tool for the Jezebel spirit all the time?

No, the pastor can be a real blessing when he is preaching and when he is counselling. But now and then the Jezebel spirit can hit in full power.

Is a ‘Jezebel pastor’ open to spiritual warfare?

If the Jezebel spirit controls a pastor, it will not allow the pastor to lead the church into spiritual warfare. On the other hand the pastor can teach about spiritual warfare, but it will probably not happen often and when it happens it will be on a very low level.

Is a ‘Jezebel pastor’ aware of the fact that he/she is used by the Jezebel spirit?

No, Jezebel persons, including ‘Jezebel pastors’, almost never realize their situation.

Should I confront my pastor if I am convinced that he is under the influence of the Jezebel spirit?

No, absolutely not! In the first place we should never accuse anybody for being under the influence of the Jezebel spirit. It is the wrong way to handle that situation. Secondly it would be totally meaningless to confront, since the pastor will not have a clue about his/her situation. Should you try to confront, you will probably meet a manifestation of the Jezebel spirit.

We will talk later about how to deal with the Jezebel spirit in a proper way.

Spiritual Warfare in the Book of Psalms – 139

Scripture:

Ps. 56:9
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

Comment:

We must KNOW that the evil spirits turn back when we command them to leave.

God is using us to release, by faith and proclamation, His will here on earth. That of course is also true for spiritual warfare. When we command evil spirits to leave a person, or a place, we need to have a strong assurance that the spirits really leave.

Hebr. 11:1 (ESV)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

The evil spirits do not passively wait for us, the believers, to conquer them. There is a war concerning spiritual warfare. First, the evil spirits will try to stop us from getting knowledge about our authority, and about our mission to deal with them. If they are not successful, they will try to make us doubt that something really happens when we are commanding them to leave.

How then do we get the strong assurance we need to have, in order to become efficient in spiritual warfare? We receive that assurance when we fully realize that it’s God’s will for us to deal with the evil spirits, and when we realize that He is for us in the spiritual battle.

Ps. 56:9
… this I know; for God is for me.

We need to KNOW that God wants us to make spiritual warfare. And we also need to KNOW that the evil spirits really turn back when we command them to leave.

Demonology – 65

65. THE JEZEBEL SPIRIT (part 20)

What releases the attacks of the Jezebel spirit against the local church?

The local church is a target for the attacks of the Jezebel spirit since the church is a part of God’s order. But we shall have a closer look at what stirs up the anger of that spirit.

The Jezebel spirit especially attacks a church that is characterized by one or more of the following items:

• Active deliverance ministry
• Active intercession ministry
• Awareness of the authority of the believer
• Awareness of the importance of prayer
• Heart for worship and praise
• Love filled fellowship between members
• Love for the Word of God, and reverence for it
• Openness for the Holy Spirit
• Openness for the prophetic
• Passion for advancing the kingdom of God
• Passion for coming closer to God and for getting to know him better
• Passion for Israel as the people of God
• Passion for World mission
• Spirit filled leaders
• Vision for influencing the society to a positive transformation

The Jezebel spirit will attack each of the items mentioned above, and the absence of them in a church is a sign that the Jezebel spirit has been successful.

What sorts of churches doesn’t the Jezebel attack?

Some churches will not be as important to attack as others. The most typical of these is that tradition and human decisions have replaced the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

There is another church type that the Jezebel spirit will not attack, because it dares not. That is a church that is filled with the Holy Spirit, and where every believer immediately uses his/her authority against every demon or principality trying to attack. Every believer in such a church has proven him-/herself to mean business by acting the same way every time the evil spiritual world attacks, namely casting the spirits behind the attack down to the abyss.
There probably are no such churches yet, but they will come.

Spiritual Warfare in the Book of Psalms – 138

Scripture:

Ps. 56:9
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back …

Comment:

The words ”unto thee” are not included in the original text. What the text actually says is,

“When I cry, then shall mine enemies turn back”

We need to cry unto God, i.e. seek Him in prayer, and we need to cry against our enemies, the evil spiritual world.

When we confront the enemy it’s very important that we know the evil spirits have to turn back. The power of God is released by your faith and your words.

The evil spiritual world is trying to make you doubt that something happens when you use your authority. Since most of the time the evil spirits are invisible, we may not always see the immediate result when we act against them. Then we need to know that the evil spirits we confront really turn back even when it doesn’t seem so.

Let’s say, as an example, you have just commanded a spirit of fear to leave a person. If you had been able to see in the spiritual realm you would have seen the evil spirit depart, but you would have also seen there was ‘an open door’ in that person, and a new spirit of fear was entering through it. This was not visible with the natural eye. So what will your conclusion be? You will probably think that nothing happened. The next thought might be that spiritual warfare doesn’t work. In reality it worked, but you didn’t see it. In that situation you need to KNOW that the evil spirits HAVE TO turn back when you act against them, in the name of Jesus.

Spiritual Warfare in the Book of Psalms – 137

Scripture:

Ps. 56:5 (NKJV)
All day they twist my words …

Comment:

The evil spirits can make us misunderstand.

Have you said something harmless, like ”Hi” to a person, and that person reacted very strangely?

It’s important to know that there can be evil spirits working when people misunderstand each other. Some of those misunderstandings can be solved at once, but sometimes the misunderstandings create a life long hostility.

When someone has hurt us with words, it is good to test whether or not the enemy has created a misunderstanding. The Holy Spirit wants to reveal to us and destroy all the works of the devil.

We should also be aware that what we say can be twisted by the enemy. Instead of accusing people for not understanding, let’s begin to fight against the evil spirits that are attacking them.